I want
to find out how these people live, and have lived, and what their
customs are.
"I have very vague notions upon the subject as yet, but the
general impression I have formed is that, putting ourselves on one
side, the most vigorous and amiable of known nations are the modern
Italians, the old Greeks and Romans, and the South Sea Islanders. I
believe that these nice peoples have not as a general rule been
purists, but I want to see those of them who can yet be seen; they are
the practical authorities on the question -What is best for man? and I
should like to see them and find out what they do. Let us settle the
fact first and fight about the moral tendencies afterwards."
"In fact," said I laughingly, "you mean to have high old times."
"Neither higher nor lower," was the answer, "than those people
whom I can find to have been the best in all ages. But let us change
the subject." He put his hand into his pocket and brought out a
letter. "My father," he said, "gave me this letter this morning with
the seal already broken." He passed it over to me, and I found it to
be the one which Christina had written before the birth of her last
child, and which I have given in an earlier chapter.
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